Railway-car



(N M d l.) 1 2 Sheets-Shet 1. A. J. MOMASTER.

RAILWAY GAR.

No. 451,510. Patented May 5,1891.

UNIT D STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALONZO .I. MCMAS'IER, OF LOCKPORT, NEW YORK.

RAILWAY-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 451,510, dated May 5, 1891.

Application filed November 1, 1890- Serial No. 370,044. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALoNzo J. McMAs'rER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lockport, county of Niagara, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Yestibuled Railway- Cars, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improved vestibulecars, either day passenger or sleeper; and the objects of my invention are to inclose both ends of a car so as to form a complete vestibule-car by itself or in a train; to form a complete vestibuled train composed of as many cars as may be deemed necessary, each car to be completely inclosed by itself or con-V nected throughout the train by a covered continuous passage sufficiently flexible to admit of the train passing around curves of an ordinary radius, so as to form a train composed of what is practically one car. These objects are accomplished in a simple and convenient manner, as shown in the drawings, in which sinilar letters refer to similar pieces throughou Figure 1 is a side elevation view; Fig. 2, a top plan view. Fig. 3 is a View of the awning. Fig. 7 is an end elevation view; Figs. 4, 5, 6, S, and 9 are Views of details of construction.

I propose to inclose the whole of the platform of a day passenger or sleeping car in the following manner: I set up four posts of wood or iron at the extreme end of the car, which is the outer side of the plat form, and attach the lower end of the two outside posts to the ends of the timber at outside of platform and close to the two end iron standards which support iron railing. The upper ends of the two outside posts just mentioned I will attach with iron bolts to the iron hood or curtain which suspends from edge of roof of car. The two inside posts I fasten at the bottom to the end timber just inside the two iron standards which form the passageway in passing through to another car. The upper ends of the two middle posts I fasten in like manner as the outside posts. Having thus erected the four posts at extreme end of car at outer side of platform, I will now inclose 5c the end as follows: Between the two inside posts I attach two double-hinged doors, which just fill the opening and readily swing past each other in or out. Between the inside and outside posts I ceil up with wood or iron just above the iron railing at outer side of platform. The square space between the ceiling and curtain from roof and the outside and inside posts I fill with glass sash, thereby completely inclosing the extreme end of car, as shown in Fig. 7, E E being the two doors. Through the opening M in Fig. '7 I pass a ratchet-lever for operating the brake. In the space over the steps which lead from the carplatform I place a'self-actin g trap-door, which is held down over the steps, and thereby makinga flooroverthe whole of the car-platform by a hinged door attached to end posts, and these doors are so placed that when they are closed they are exactly over the ends of the trapdoors, as shown in Fig. 1, B B being the two end doors of platform, and dotted curved line in Fig. 1 showing part of circle made by trapdoor when allowed to rise up. I have now the end of the car over platform completely inelosed, and it forms a vestibule which keeps out rain, snow, cinders, and tramps, and forms a good observation-room at both ends of car.

In order to form a vestibule-train of two cars or more, the two doors E E in Fig. 7 are swung around and attached to two other similar doors on end of car, to be attached with strap, hook, or similar contrivance, as shown in Fig. 9, E E being the doors referred to, and F the fastening to close the opening over the four doors. Between the ends of the cars I place an iron awning,which can be raised or lowered bya cord and which is held in place by sockets, which will readily slide up and down on iron rods attached to curtain at end of car, and is thereby adjustable to cars of different heights or inequalities in road-bed of railway-track, as shown in Fig. 9, C 0 being the two awnings, and I I the two cords which pass through the curtain at end of car. As we now have the vestibule-train ready to illustrate its use, let us suppose the train is approachinga station. The brakeman calls the name of the station, and as soon as the train is still he opens the door atend of platform upon the side ofthe train where he wishes the passengers to alight. hile he is opening the door he stands on the trap-door over the steps. IVhen he swings the door wide open,

ICO

he steps back from the trap-door, which rises up to a perpendicular position against the open door and is held in place by a catch on the door, as shown in Fig. 6, thereby preventing the passengers from accidentally lowering the trap-door While passing out or into the car. Vhen the train is ready to start, the brakeman, bcin g the last one to enter, releases the catch holding the trap-door, pushes it down to its place over the steps, and, standing on the trap-door, closes the door over the trapdoor, and the end of ear is once more inclosed and makes a safe place for the passengers to remain While the train is in motion and a safe passage-way from one car to another.

I am aware that prior to my invention trapdoors with spring-hinges, adjustable hinged awnings, and ratchets have been in use, and therefore do not claim patent on any of these separately; but

What I claim is 1. The double doors at the end of the platform, in combination with the awning O and means attached thereto for raising and lowering the same, substantially as set forth.

2. The herein-described means for forming a vestibule for a car, consisting of the doors B, trap-door D, doors E E, and adjustable awning O, and means for adjustii'ig the latter, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the awnings C C and means for raising and lowering the same, the doors E E E E, and means, as F, for holding said doors in place when the cars are coupled, as set forth.

4. The hinged awnings C 0, one lapping over the other, and the cords for raising and lowering the same, as set forth.

ALONZO J. MOMASTER.

Witnesses GEO. Lnwis llomlns, A. IIASKINS. 

